Aer Arann-Southend

Steyr

PR: http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=31838


Water Cannon Welcome: http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=31713

vulcan57

Like the new colours and and it's great to see another route from Galway. Not the "London has never been nearer" claim but a new route all the same and should be welcomed.

highlydebased

I think it is replacing the Luton flight so its not new per-se....in fact I dont think it is an overly positive business decision anyway

Growler!!!

Neon-Circles wrote: »

....in fact I dont think it is an overly positive business decision anyway

"He who pays the piper calls the tune" - Overly positive or not, Stobart's cash input saved the airline from going under.

highlydebased

Growler!!! wrote: »

"He who pays the piper calls the tune" - Overly positive or not, Stobart's cash input saved the airline from going under.

It did indeed. However my point still stands- numbers are going to take a hit, a passenger who may have previously flown to Luton would probably more likely drive to another airport to fly to Gatwick/Stansted over flying to Southend, which despite its pending rail connection does not give the impression of being anywhere near London.

cson

Ordinarily I'd agree but the comfort [i.e. closeness and lack of queues/hassle] of Galway airport is probably worth the extra x amount of train journey time into London.

Luton was pretty **** too as far as the main London airports go, if I was to rate;

LCY
LHR
LGW
STN
LTN

Marcusm

There's not a lot in it as the crow flies between these airports and central London. If anything, I would have thought Southend would be easier by road given quality of A13 all the way to Isleof Dogs. Neither has an airport train station (don't cite Luton Airport Parkway, it's nit at the airport) so would have said people may avoid because of unfamiliarity but shouldn't. Southend airport is tiny and security, baggage etc should be much easier than the shocking Luton experience. That all said, I'd probably prefer to fly to Dublin then drive!

vulcan57

Neon-Circles wrote: »

I think it is replacing the Luton flight so its not new per-se....in fact I dont think it is an overly positive business decision anyway

Just checked flights for November from Galway to Luton return and they are still available. When are they stopping that service?

January

Steyr wrote: »

PR: http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=31838


Water Cannon Welcome: http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=31713

Was wondering why EI-DVM had water cannons on arrival in Stuggart... Is it traditional?

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

I was on the Sunday morning flight from Galway - they had champagne for us on arrival and plenty of plane spotters I think.

The train station is finished but not open yet so we had to take a shuttle to Rochford about 5 minutes away. Off peak there was a train to Liverpool Street every 30 minutes (it passed by the Olympics site at Stratford)

The airport itself isn't much bigger than Galway but you can see where they are building a new one next to the station.
http://www.flysouthend2012.com/

They also have a Vulcan bomber on the grounds.

There were a lot of staff and security around - no problems at check-in but the metal detector was beeping for every other person at security.

Facilities after security were a bit basic but it did have tea/coffee/beer.

Overall it was interesting but I stopped flying from Galway ages ago and I'm not sure if it is enough to bring me back.

roundymac

I see where Stobart died last night from a heart attack, only 56 RIP. I wonder how this will affect Aer Arann and Southend Airport.

roundymac

Anyone got any news on the services are going, ie loadings etc.

lord lucan

January wrote: »

Was wondering why EI-DVM had water cannons on arrival in Stuggart... Is it traditional?

It was a new aircraft flying the inaugural DUB - STR route,i'd imagine that's why it got the Water Cannon Salute.:)

bkehoe

Was on the Friday evening service from Waterford to Southend. Just 17 passengers on an ATR42.

Just prior to arrival the misleading Aer Arann radio advertisements became apparent when the FA handed out leaflets saying the train station wasn't open yet so onto the shuttle bus everyone piled. Most passengers also got asked why they were coming to the UK and had their passports examined by Essex Police (unusual considering the CTA - especially as Gatwick/Heathrow/etc treat Irish arrivals as domestic passengers and thus have no security checks).
At the train station I legged it to the nearest ticket machine and then ran to the train which had just pulled into the station - the trains are only once every 30mins in the evenings so I didn't want to miss it (as it happened, nobody else from the flight made it onto that train). And the trundling towards London began...

All in all, it took me exactly 2 hours from disembarking the aircraft to arriving at my destination in Kensington using the fastest form of public transport. Had I missed the train it'd have been 2.5 hrs.

This is very poor in my opinion compared to any of the other airports. It is of course useful if your destination is Essex or possibly East London and it was interesting seeing the Olympic stadium from the train.

Thankfully my return journey was via Luton which took me exactly 1 hour to get to via tube and train from St Pancras and shuttle bus. The flight on Sunday afternoon from Luton was an ATR72 and almost full.

I rarely use Aer Arann from Waterford (maybe 4 or 5 times a year) and the change to Southend is certainly not going to help convince me to fly more from Waterford which is a shame. Getting to London for me (living near New Ross) is possible in less time, less cost and in more comfort by flying Aer Lingus from Dublin.

One more annoying thing - the Aer Arann website doesn't permit you to book a flight to Southend and returning from Luton in the one booking. I had to create 2 individual bookings and pay more in Sterling for the return Luton - Waterford flight.

roundymac

That's not very clever of them, maybe now we know why they nearly went burst last year. I'd put in a complaint to AA about what you said, if I were you, (1) they might take your views on board (2) you might get some compo out of them. Companies hate paying compo but sometimes it makes them sit up and do things correctly.